Mind, Body & Spirit: All About the Mind

We know a thing or two about having fun! With the help of our lifestyle directors and our residents, we get creative with our social calendar and plan activities and events customized to the interests and passions of each community.

Sometimes our events focus on a holiday or a particular hobby. Other times, we dream up activities that follow a particular theme we all get behind.  Right now, we're emphasizing "Mind, Body & Spirit," and enjoying activities that keep our minds busy, interested, and learning. 

Here's how some of our communities have been highlighting the significance and benefit of mindfulness, engagement, and education.

Health & Wellness Fair

Our residents at Aspen Trail (Colorado Springs, CO) enjoyed the community's first-annual health and wellness fair in early April. Vendor booths lined Main Street and gave our seniors an opportunity to visit with local wellness providers to discover products and services that support healthy minds, bodies, and spirits. A favorite stop was the massage station where residents relaxed for sitting massages—an excellent way to reduce tension and improve mental health.

Yellow Bird Indian Dancers

Arrowhead Valley's (Peoria, AZ) theater stage was recently filled with traditional American Indian performances from members of Yellow Bird Productions. The internationally renowned group specializes in cultural presentations and captivated our residents with their storytelling, flute songs, and expressive dancing. The performance showed the spirit of Native American heritage, and gave our residents an uplifting moment of full of fascination.

Gardening Seminar

There are few things that cultivate mindfulness better than spending the day in a garden.  For National Gardening Day, residents at Daniel Pointe (Daniel Island, SC) welcomed our friends at Forever Green Landscaping for a planting seminar that got everyone out in the sun and enjoying the fresh air. Our master gardeners were thrilled to show off the progress they've made with our community herb and produce garden!

Poetry Writing

Writing and journaling can benefit mental health in a quiet and peaceful way. But what about poetry as a group? We think the same benefits apply, just in a less quiet way! Sherrill Hills (Knoxville, TN) residents invited poet John Conte to join them for happy hour and participated in a lesson on the art of poetry. The group got their creativity flowing by building off each other's ideas and together constructed poems about spring and the things that make them smile.    

Gnomes for Your Homes

Nothing brings joy and mental relaxation like working with your hands to create something special. At Maple Ridge (Omaha, NE), our residents and managers recently got together for an afternoon of crafting "gnomes for your homes." Each gnome, unique with its own hat, beard, and accessories, will be displayed on our residents' front porches to share with the community, further spreading the happiness that art provides.

Peace of Mind

It's always a good time to focus on mindfulness, education, and engagement. While activities like these are good for the mind, they are ultimately beneficial for the physical body and for spiritual health, too. A robust social calendar is one of the many ways we stay healthy and enjoy resort-style living. Want to join in the fun? Call your local retirement community to talk to our managers and RSVP to one of our events!